U.S. patent application number 09/769132 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-06 for inflatable bed support.
Invention is credited to Lang, Heinrich, Ulert, Izaak A..
Application Number | 20010047549 09/769132 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26874837 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010047549 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ulert, Izaak A. ; et
al. |
December 6, 2001 |
Inflatable bed support
Abstract
An inflatable bed support constructed of an appropriately shaped
envelope with internal support strings and a valve through which
the support can be inflated.
Inventors: |
Ulert, Izaak A.; (Houston,
TX) ; Lang, Heinrich; (The Woodlands, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Valerie K. Friedrich
Suite 200
1350 NASA Road One
Houston
TX
77058
US
|
Family ID: |
26874837 |
Appl. No.: |
09/769132 |
Filed: |
January 24, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60178945 |
Feb 1, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/660 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 27/087 20130101;
A47C 20/027 20130101; A47C 27/081 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/660 |
International
Class: |
A47C 031/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An inflatable bed support comprising: a wedge shaped envelope
comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a back surface, a first
side surface and a second side surface, said top surface having a
forward portion, one or more internal support strings, each of said
strings having a first end and a second end, said first end of each
said internal support strings attached to said first side surface
and said second end of each said internal support strings attached
to said second side surface; and a closable valve located on any of
said top surface, bottom surface, back surface, first side surface
or second side surface.
2. The inflatable bed support of claim 1 further comprising: one or
more additional internal support strings, each of said additional
internal support strings having a first and second end, said first
end of each said additional internal support strings attached to
said back surface and said second end of each said additional
internal support strings attached to or near said forward portion
of said top surface.
3. The inflatable bed support of claim 1 further comprising: a pump
attached to said closable valve.
4. An inflatable bed support comprising: a substantially
cylindrical shaped envelope comprising a circumferential surface, a
first side surface and a second side surface, one or more internal
support strings, each of said strings having a first end and a
second end, said first end of each said internal support strings
attached to said first side surface and said second end of each
said internal support strings attached to said second side surface;
and a closable valve located on any of said circumferential
surface, first side surface or second side surface.
5. The inflatable bed support of claim 4 further comprising: a pump
attached to said closable valve.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] There are many medical conditions that require the upper
part of the body to remain higher than the abdomen. In order to
accommodate this requirement there are hospital beds, which raise
and/or lower different portions of the bed by means of a motor.
Other currently available devices for raising the upper part of the
body while lying down include several types of pillows and wedges.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,069 discloses a folding pillow
prop consisting of three rigid, foldable parts, which can be
assembled into a wedge form. The device of the '069 patent is bulky
and does not lend itself to be easily transported. Furthermore,
U.S. Pat. No. 952,346 discloses a rigid collapsible board
consisting of a bottom part and a tiltable upper part which are
elevated by pivotable riser. The device of the '346 patent is bulky
and does not lend itself to be easily portable. Such existing
devices also generally have the disadvantage of being suited for
use solely on a single size of bed, or a narrow range of bed
sizes.
[0002] There is therefore a need for a device for elevating the
upper portion of the body while lying down, but that could also be
moved easily from one place to another. It would also be
advantageous for such a device to be small enough to fit into hand
luggage, and more particularly, in hand luggage, in order to be
used under the mattress of beds in different locations. Finally, it
would be advantageous for such device to be usable on a variety of
bed sizes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The device of the present invention is an inflatable bed
support of any appropriate shape having internal supports. The
inflatable bed support is lightweight and, when not in use, may be
deflated so as to be easily transported. In order to provide upper
body elevation, the deflated support is slipped underneath a
mattress and is then inflated thereby raising the head and upper
body portions of the mattress. Internal supports prevent the
support of the present invention from loosing its functional shape
when weight is placed upon the mattress, such as when one lies down
upon the mattress.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment
of the inflatable bed support of the present invention.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second preferred
embodiment of the inflatable bed support of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The inflatable bed support of the present invention consists
of an inflatable envelope in any appropriate shape. In a first
preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inflatable bed
support 1 is in the shape of a wedge, as shown in FIG. 1, having a
top surface 2, a bottom surface 3, two side surfaces 4 and 5 and a
back surface 6. Side surfaces 4 and 5 and back surface 6 are
prevented from bulging by a plurality of internal support strings
which are attached in such a way as to prevent bulging. Referring
to FIG. 1, a total of four internal support strings are shown, two
internal support strings, 7 and 8, attached to and anchoring the
two side surfaces 4 and 5 and two internal support strings, 9 and
10, attached to back surface 6 and to or near the edge intersecting
top surface 2 and bottom surface 3. It will be understood that the
number of internal support strings may vary depending upon the size
and shape of the inflatable bed support.
[0007] Referring now to FIG. 2, a second preferred embodiment of
the present invention is shown in which the inflatable bed support
11 is of a substantially cylindrical shape having a circumferential
surface 12, two side surfaces 13 and 14, and internal support
string 15. Inflatable bed support 11 may further include one or
more internal support string stretched along the internal diameter
of the inflatable bed support 11 and attached to the
circumferential surface 12. Referring to FIG. 2, two such internal
support strings 16 and 17 along the internal diameter are shown. It
will be understood that the number of internal support strings may
vary depending upon the size of inflatable bed support 11.
[0008] Referring to both FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the
inflatable bed support of the present invention further consists of
a closable valve 18 which may be placed on any of the surfaces of
the inflatable bed support. Any of a variety of prior art valves
may be used in the present invention, such as those commonly used
on inflatable swimming pool toys. Preferably, valve 18 is placed on
an easily accessible portion of the inflatable bed support such as
side surface 4 or 5 in FIG. 1 or side surfaces 13 or 14 in FIG.
2.
[0009] The collapsed wedge is inflated by means of blowing air into
the internal cavity of the inflatable bed support using either a
mechanical or electrical pump or by mouth. The inflatable bed
support may be inflated totally or partially, according to the
degree of support required. Once the inflatable bed support is
inflated to the degree desired, valve 18 is closed to prevent the
air from leaking out of the inflatable bed support.
[0010] If a pump is used to inflate the inflatable bed support of
the present invention, it may be connected directly to valve 18 or
through means of flexible tubing having the appropriate fittings or
adapters. Such tubing, fittings and adapters are well known in the
prior art.
[0011] To prevent overinflation, a relief valve may be included in
a side surface of the inflatable bed support or connected through
tubing attaching valve 18 to a pump.
[0012] It will be understood that the inflatable bed support of the
present invention may be manufactured of any flexible air-tight
polymeric materials. A number of such materials are known in the
prior art, such as those materials typically used in the
construction of swimming pool toys. Furthermore, the dimensions of
the inflatable bed support of the present invention may vary
depending upon the size of bed intended to be elevated. Preferably,
however, the inflatable bed support is of a width, side surface to
side surface distance, approximating the width of a double size
mattress. It will be understood that an inflatable bed support
smaller or larger than a mattress may be used under such mattress.
It will be further understood that the internal support strings may
be made of any of a number of known string and/or cord materials,
such as cotton, polyester or nylon cording.
[0013] When not in use, the inflatable bed support may be deflated
and folded so that it is easily stored or transported.
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